Douglas Hanson named new CEO at Open Cities Health Center

Douglas Hanson was recently appointed chief executive officer at Open Cities Health Center. OCHC is a federally qualified health care center located in St. Paul serving low-income, uninsured, underinsured, immigrants and other populations groups in need of affordable health care. "We are very excited to be making this positive step forward," said Jay Colond, OCHC's board chair. "Doug brings a strong business background to OCHC as well as experience in health care and a passion for community health. In an age when nonprofit clinics are seeking ways to provide integrated, affordable health care, and where cost control is a priority, Doug has a common sense approach to clinic operations with a strong voice for individuals and families who are in need of health care."

A leader in the health care field, Hanson was the chief executive and principle at Integrated Medical Rehabilitation, a private company that provided all lines of physical therapy and had locations in Minneapolis and Brandon/Bradenton, FL. He also served as director of Administration and Development for Minnesota Specialty Physicians, Inc., a 600 specialty physician IPA in the Twin Cities, where he established strategies related to network development, health plan contracting, and insurance agency operations.

Earlier in his career he served as director of Provider and Community Relations at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, and was responsible for marketing, strategic development of new medical clinics, physician relations, affiliated medical providers, community relations, building projects, grant management, budget and staff oversight.

Hanson also continues his role of chief administrative officer at the Collaborative Care Cooperative, a network of over 500 leading independent specialist physicians that provide patients, purchasers and payers with easy access to high quality specialty care. He facilitates the development of quality outcome measures, cost containment strategies and improved coordination of patient care and managed the development of an innovative electronic physician-to-physician communication tool.

"This is an exciting time to be in health care and working in the community health center arena," Hanson stated. "With the national movement toward performance measurements and cost containment, we are working toward re-examining how we evaluate our performance so that we continue to expand our services and provide the best possible care to individuals and families. Many of the tools and practice approaches that have worked in other health care arenas will work at Open Cities."

OCHC has a historic place in the St. Paul, opening in 1967 in the City's old Rondo neighborhood, which was home to St. Paul's African American population. It started in the basement of a church with a volunteer staff of doctors and nurses and continued to expand as health care needs grew. The clinic was ahead of its time – it's first two leaders were not only African American but they were also women during a time (the 1960s) when populations of color and women held few management positions. Today, OCHC provides medical, dental, behavioral health, chiropractic, optometry, podiatry, minor surgery, and education and outreach services to over 15,000 patients that come from throughout the Twin Cities' metro area.

"I have become acutely aware of the place OCHC holds in the community from the perspective of patients, providers and staff," Hanson noted. "I have been well received at the clinic and have a great admiration for the staff and services that OCHC has provided for nearly half a century."

Looking at today's complex health care arena, Hanson said, "We are enhancing the clinic's financial strength and I look forward to working with the Board, staff, patients and community members on expanding our quality care to new access points, including the facility at 916 Rice Street. The main goal is to provide quality, integrated health care services that meet the increasingly complex health care needs of our patients."

Hanson has Bachelors Degree in Science Social Work and Sociology from Hamline University and a Masters Degree in Publication Administration from Hamline University. His awards include Service Award from Minnesota Medical Group Management Association, Annual Recognition Award from the American Hospital Association, Partner in Excellence Award from HealthPartners and Outstanding Service Award from the American Heart Association.